mulch

[johnyne rees]

Does anyone know whether Spanish Moss is useable for mulch for vegetable gardens? We have a couple of oaks that have to be cut down and consequenly have a good supply of the moss.

We also wondered if the tiny chips of wood that result from the cutting would be most beneficial--in the compost or directly in the garden?

What mulch to use is a puzzle to us, so this year we used none. Big mistake! We battled weeds all summer.

You can probably tell from these questions that we are relatively new to organic gardening!

Any advice will be appreciated.

[Dirt Doctor]

Spanish moss, if you have enough, would make a fine mulch.

[CCC/AC-Craig]

I am no expert, but I have been told that wood will rob the soil of nitrogen and use it in the rotting process. So I have never used wood chips in the soil, but have used it as a multch with a layer of that black cloth stuff under it. AC-Craig